Gurgeh rubbed his beard. "Perhaps half a year or so; it's hard to say without knowing the details. Say that, though; say half a year… not that I can see it's necessary. Local colour rarely adds that much to a game."

"Normally, true." The machine paused. "I understand this might be rather a complicated game; it might take a while to learn. It is likely you would have to devote yourself to it for some time."

"I'm sure I'll manage," Gurgeh said. The longest it had taken him to learn any game had been three days; he hadn't forgotten any rule of any game in all his life, nor ever had to learn one twice.

"Very well," the small drone said suddenly, "on that basis, I shall report back. Farewell, Morat Gurgeh." It started to accelerate into the sky.

Gurgeh looked up at it, mouth open. He resisted the urge to jump up. "Is that it?" he said.

The small machine stopped a couple of metres up. "That's all I'm allowed to talk about. I've asked you what I was supposed to ask you. Now I report back. Why, is there anything else you would like to know I might be able to help you with?"

"Yes," Gurgeh said, annoyed now. "Do I get to hear anything else about whatever and wherever it is you're talking about?"

The machine seemed to waver in the air. Its fields hadn't changed since its arrival. Eventually, it said, "Jernau Gurgeh?"

There was a long moment when they were both silent. Gurgeh stared at the machine, then stood up, put both hands on his hips and his head to one side and shouted, "Yes?"

"…. Probably not," the drone snapped, and instantly rose straight up, fields flicking off. He heard the roaring noise and saw the vapour-trail form; it was a single tiny cloud at first because he was right underneath it, then it lengthened slowly for a few seconds, before suddenly ceasing to grow. He shook his head.

He took out the pocket terminal. "House," he said. "Raise that drone." He continued to stare into the sky.